Israel: Iraqi reaction to lawmaker's visit 'very distressing'

By HERB KEINON
After Iraqi MPs voted overwhelmingly to strip fellow lawmaker Mithal al-Alusi of his immunity and allow his prosecution for visiting Israel, Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor called the situation "very distressing." He said it was sad this was the response to someone who merely visited Israel and was interested in a dialogue with it. "It is very unfortunate that the reaction was so violent and aggressive," he said. "It adds nothing." Palmor said Israel was appreciative of al-Alusi's "courage," and that the reactions to his visit were an example of the extremism that was plaguing Iraq and leading to so much bloodshed there.